YPSILANTI — The Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents today unanimously approved a University general fund budget for fiscal year 2009-10 of $267.7 million with a 3.8 percent increase in tuition and fees. The budget includes an 8 percent ($1.9 million) increase in University-sponsored financial aid to $25.6 million.

“The economic and financial challenges for students, their families and the state are severe and unprecedented. Our students come from Michigan, graduate and stay in Michigan. Particularly in this economic environment, we felt it was essential to keep tuition as low as possible and to increase student financial aid,” said Susan Martin, president of Eastern Michigan University. “We’re pleased that Eastern will increase financial aid by almost $2 million and believe the relatively modest tuition and fee increases will strengthen EMU’s position as one of the best educational values in the State. We hope that the State of Michigan will not reduce financial aid to our students.”

The $267.7 million budget for 2009-10 represents a 1.9 percent increase over the approved 2008-09 budget.

“Containing our costs while reinvesting more than $81 million in our campus facilities and infrastructure would not be possible without sacrifice on the part of our employees and continuing efficiency improvements,” Martin said. “EMU is committed to increasing the number of college graduates in Michigan through an affordable and accessible education.”

The 2009-10 budget reflects personnel and non-personnel cost containment actions which mitigate the required tuition and fee increases. They include: a pay freeze for 100 highest compensated staff members; deferral of merit increases for administrative and professional staff (APs); and the implementation of a voluntary furlough program.

For the second year, the budget was developed with input from the EMU Budget Council, a 25-member group made up of student, faculty and staff representatives.

The amount of state appropriation is uncertain at this time. The budget was based on an assumption of a 3 percent appropriation reduction (from $78.6 million in 2008-09 to $76.2 million in 2009-10).

With the 3.8 percent tuition increase, in-state undergraduate students will pay an additional $308 for tuition and fees, bringing the annual cost of tuition and fees at EMU to $8,377.

“EMU remains a very attractive educational option for students offering an outstanding education at costs below most of Michigan’s 15 state universities,” said Martin.